Ruby Franke’s Untold Footage Exposes New Child Abuse Allegations Before Her Arrest

Alongside previously unseen footage from Ruby Franke’s archives, Hulu’s revealing docuseries about the YouTuber showcased her oldest children breaking their silence regarding the abuse they endured prior to her arrest for child abuse.

In Hulu’s three-part docuseries Devil in the Family, which debuted on Thursday, February 27, Ruby’s eldest daughter and son, Shari and Chad, provided over 1,000 hours of unseen footage to the producers. They also shared experiences that were not captured on film, including instances of alleged physical abuse.

“There were moments when she exploded off camera,” Chad recounted. “She would hit [me], take the belt, pull down my pants, and whip me.”

Shari recalled witnessing her brother being harmed, while some of Ruby’s previously unseen footage suggested moments when she set down the camera to discipline her children.

“I always felt bad when he got in trouble. He would end up with a bloody nose, and I would bring him toilet paper,” Shari recounted in the documentary. “I didn’t really know how to help. He got hurt really badly once, and I assisted him in cleaning blood off the walls.”

Ruby and her husband Kevin Franke gained fame with their YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, which was launched in 2015. Initially, their content revolved around the couple and their six children until Ruby’s friend Jodi Hildebrandt entered the scene. Ultimately, they rebranded as Moms of Truth to share more faith-based content.

In 2023, both Ruby and Jodi were arrested and faced six charges of felony child abuse. Their arrest followed an incident where Ruby’s youngest son, then 12, escaped from Hildebrandt’s residence and sought help from a neighbor. Authorities found the child malnourished, with duct tape around his ankles and wrists.

Devil in the Family outlined a timeline based on accounts from Shari, Chad, and Kevin, depicting Ruby’s rise to fame and the online backlash that forced her to alter her content and eventually go off the grid before her arrest. (Hulu indicated at the start of the three-part series that the identities of the four youngest Franke children were concealed for their protection.)

“In hindsight, I don’t believe she was a good person. She was already an abusive mother, and then it escalated significantly over the last couple of years,” Shari stated. “Ruby’s actions were her own, and I wouldn’t attribute that solely to Jodi. Jodi merely ignited what was already in Ruby’s heart.”

Ruby ultimately confessed to four counts of child abuse in December 2023, acknowledging that she tortured her children. As part of her plea agreement, she consented to serve a prison sentence with her sentences being consecutive. She also agreed to testify against Hildebrandt, who also pleaded guilty.

Devil in the Family indicated that Ruby and Hildebrandt did not respond to requests for comments regarding the new allegations presented in the docuseries. Continue reading for a summary of Shari, Chad, and Kevin’s revelations, which include unseen footage of Ruby:

Conflict from the Beginning

Various archived videos that Ruby never shared on her channel revealed that the issues around her incessant filming started early. Footage includes arguments with Kevin when he refused to interact with the camera.

“Suddenly, just interacting with her wasn’t enough,” Kevin explained. “I had to engage with the camera. She would bring it out and say, ‘Kevin, this camera has millions of viewers watching us.’ She wanted me to be the perfect husband.”

Kevin disclosed that their initial paycheck after they went viral was under $100. From that point, their earnings swelled from “$2,000 to $8,000 to $20,000 and even more than $100,000 per month.” Shari referred to Ruby as the CEO of the family business, with the “kids serving as employees.”

In another video, Ruby tried to record while hearing her family outside the door.

“Hey, I am still recording! Come on!” she shouted in the footage. “Why am I hearing all this noise?”

Observing a Change

“We began to notice changes in the kids over time,” Kevin remarked. “They started complaining about everything, which greatly concerned Ruby. She described it as them losing their light.”

During a family trip, Kevin confronted Chad for his behavior, saying, “You’re being terrible. The reason we are here is because of our job, and you guys are acting like this is stupid.”

In another footage, Ruby told Chad that they would earn $10 for each video they contributed to. He admitted he grappled with this new reality, expressing to the producers, “It bugged me like crazy. I hated it. I even harbored resentment toward her for a year, maybe longer.”

He further shared, “With brand deals and sponsorships, it felt like I was losing my autonomy. I intentionally said the wrong things, attempting to make her as angry as possible [over it]. I was deliberately difficult, and I can’t explain why. I really disliked being bossed around.”

Shari echoed similar sentiments: “Our entire routine revolved around YouTube, and that’s when I began experiencing problems,” she noted. “We had to maintain a perfectly clean house, and we changed all lightbulbs from warm to bright white to create a set-like environment rather than a home.”

Revealing the Truth

Before Ruby shared a video in 2020 — which sparked significant backlash — regarding taking Chad’s bed away, their mother-son relationship faced many challenges. Chad admitted that he began acting out at school, which eventually led to him being assigned to Hildebrandt as his therapist.

Unreleased YouTube footage showed Ruby’s growing frustration with Chad for refusing to film with her.

“If I’m going to let you vlog and dedicate all my time to you, then you need to reciprocate,” she scolded him, prompting his response, “I don’t know how to do that.”

Amid directing her other kids to quiet down, Ruby instructed Chad to “pretend to be excited about sharing your name’s origin, even if you have to fake it. Fake being happy.” He confessed: “I’m not sure I can do that right now.”

In his own confessional, Kevin was questioned about Ruby’s behavior.

“I was unaware of the extent,” he acknowledged. “However, I understood this was the way she was raised. Love equated to obedience, but once you disobeyed, fear replaced that love.”

Prior to her 2024 sentencing, Ruby expressed remorse to her children. “I stripped away everything soft, safe, and good from you all,” she told the courtroom. “I robbed you of your mother. I can’t imagine how terrifying that must have been for you. I will perpetually grieve for hurting your tender souls. I hold you dear. I’m sorry.”

She also addressed her estranged husband directly, stating, “You are the love of my life. The end of our marriage is a tragedy.”

Striving to Move Forward

Shari, now an advocate against family blogging, has severed ties with Ruby, declaring, “I will never speak to her again — regardless of how remorseful she may be. It doesn’t affect my feelings. We only get one childhood, and she was mine.”

Conversely, Chad revealed he misses “the mother figure” he once had.

“I miss how she used to be when I was very small, but I believe she deserves what she is experiencing,” he commented. “I don’t believe she should be released until all the kids are over 18. However, that doesn’t diminish my love for her.”

Kevin shares a similar perspective regarding his ongoing feelings for Ruby. “I’ve always loved her,” he confessed, though they are currently in the midst of divorce proceedings. “Her actions are horrendous, but I still feel a yearning for her and I miss her.”

If you suspect child abuse, please refer to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Welfare Information Gateway for state-specific reporting numbers.